How the organic agriculture ideology destroyed the Sri Lankan economy

SRI Lanka, an island nation south of India, is experiencing a food and economic emergency. Just a decade ago, the country emerged victorious from the destructive and protracted war waged by the Tamil Tigers occupying the northeastern part of the country. After winning the battle against the internal insurgents, the Sri Lankan government started to rebuild its economy. Its march to recovery was successful until it was halted by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Already reeling from the adverse effects of Covid-19, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made the costly mistake of banning the importation of all chemical fertilizers. He wanted to make his country the first in the world to be recognized as a hundred-percent producer of organic agriculture products. However, nature operates differently and the decision backfired.